skydived19006

That’s not at all true or feasible. Were Ben and Cary to try to open a DZ to compete with me, hire someone to spend 40 to 60 hours a week answering the phone, and running the DZ. Purchase and maintain one or two C-182s, it would go farther toward bankrupting them than “expanding their empire”. The large markets may be subject to “Skyride takeover”, but not the little “hobby businesses” that most 1 and 2 182 DZs out here in fly over country. As for the larger metro areas, if they try to expand and open satellite DZs maybe it’ll just force the existing DZs to “sharpen their pencils”. Does it really matter who’s behind the new competition? Such as the situation in Kansas City, would it have been a good thing if Ben and Cary were behind the Kansas City Skydiving Center? Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I just looked to find a seldom used term in my Yahoo Search Marketing campaign, and clicked it 5 times in less than 30 seconds. It'll be tomorrow before I know what they charge me, I'll let you know. Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I don’t know that it is illegal, I also imagine that there may be some sort of “stop loss” control written into the software such that if a link is clicked more than a couple of times within a certain time period from the same url, it’ll trip a trigger, and stop the charge. That is pure speculation on my part. I agree that it’s totally acceptable to surf around, and click the paid ads looking over some of the 800+ Skyride, Soaring Sports, Thrill Planet, etc sites. That said, you’ll inevitably end up clicking through on real DZs, and running up their costs as well. Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

If I understand the process...everytime you click the link from the GOOGLE search pageit cost them money. Each timeyou log in, go to a search for skyride and click the link. their advertising bill will go through the roof if we all do that....then maybe they will not be able to afrod the advertising It’s called “pay per click”. Basically a business will bid for placement on particular search terms such as “skydiving florida” (see attached bids for this term). If I bid $1.00 and the next highest bid is $.50, whenever someone clicks my ad I’ll pay $.51. In the attached example the highest bid is $3.50, the next is $2.00, so if you search for “skydiving florida” on Yahoo, Msn, AltaVista, etc., and click on the miamiskydiving.com ad, it will cost “Miami Skydiving” (This is actually a Skyride clone site, it’s not Skydive Miami, or any other real DZ in Florida), they’ll have to pay $2.01 for every click. The advertiser can also set a daily maximum expenditure, like say $50.00 a day, when that number (whatever it may be) is hit, the ads will cease to come up for the rest of the day. Take a look if you like http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&fr=slv8-mdp&p=skydiving%20florida Disclaimer, I personally would not suggest that people do this search and run up costs for any advertiser. Also, you need to be careful which ads you click through on, it may be a real DZ, and you’ll end up costing a legitimate DZ money. That said, I can’t keep anyone from doing anything immoral, illegal, etc. Do as your conscience allows. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Skyride does rank fairly well, but they draw most of their business through paid search engine ads. There have been a couple of efforts to organize with DZOs to combine resources, set up a link site, and use very general search terms such as “skydive”. Jan Meyer was even bad mouthed her for her www.wheretojump.com effort, which received virtually no support from the DZO community. Now Joe Jennings is working on www.skydive.com to do basically the same thing, but he’s “selling” harder than Jan did, and maybe his will go somewhere. It’s been my experience that most DZOs are extremely independent, and don’t want to send money to someone for something that they could do themselves (that said very few DZs use paid search ads, even though you can do it for little money). Most will go to the rescue of a fellow DZO (unless there’s bad blood), and help out each other, but they will also cut each others throat at times. Skyride is an excellent example of throat cutting, if it weren’t for the few DZs that deal with Skyride, it would cease to be an issue. Some people just can’t see the forest for the trees. You are correct about the link trading. If every legitimate DZ in this country would put up a page with links to every other DZ, we’d all benefit from the page ranking. It would actually be fairly easy to share the basic code, once one person did the ground work, but it would also be a pain to maintain, although in this case if these pages over a couple of years ended up with a few dead links it most likely wouldn’t matter. That said, most search engine crawl software tries to detect “link pages” and discounts the relevance (as I understand it) Martin Air Capital Drop Zone Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I respect your opinion, and your personal decision not to add a hand camera to your tandems. I personally don’t do, or have any desire to do high performance canopy landings, and I personally would never put myself in a bird man suit. Those two disciplines are added risk factors that I don’t wish to take on, for me the risk/benefit doesn’t add up. I also won’t load up a sport main above 1.5, and my reserve is loaded to 1.1, again my decision, not necessarily yours, but I respect your choice to do differently. As for my experience: I’ve been jumping since 1990, instructing since 1995 (SL-I, IAD-I), Tandem I since 1999 with 1000+ tandems (need to catch up my log book!), 300 + outside tandem video, 30 +/- hand cam tandem vids. I’m also DZO of a 1 C182 DZ with two of us doing the tandems and trading out on outside video. We’re a weekend operation, and will do 500 +/- tandems this year, so the hand cam is also an economic, and efficiency decision for us as well. Hand cam also frees up the airplane for the fun jumpers (two tandems one load with video, one more load of fun jumpers) Not that it’s exactly on topic, but if you never have you should “do a little time” at a small busy DZ. It’s quite a different operation compared to a medium/large turbine DZ! Next time you’re passing through Kansas, you’re welcome to stop in, make a jump or two, and hang out. Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I had the very same concerns you have about hand cam Dave, then I started doing it. I’ll agree that it does add an element of risk, it is obviously heavier than an altimeter, but when I need to ignore that camera, it’s about as much of a distraction as an altimeter on my left hand. As with many things we do there’s generally a period where new things are viewed as dangerous. Talk to someone who’s been jumping for 40 years. They’ll tell you that they’ve heard things like “those new square parachutes are dangers, you’re going to get yourself killed, it’s just another fad”, “you should never be that close to someone in freefall, you’re stupid, and you’re going to get yourself killed” (in reference to passing a baton), or how about “that freefly shit is just another fad, it’s dangerous, is going to kill people, and will be gone like the hoola hoop in no time”. Sometimes the nay sayers are right sometimes not. I’ve heard it said that high performance landings can kill a person, that one is definitely true, but again some choose to do it, and some get killed doing it every year. I know, I know, I have a passenger with me on a tandem, and I’m putting their life in danger with my actions. I don’t know, but I’d imagine that Bill Booth, and Ted Strong could tell stories about how people thought their "new tandem jumping idea" was dangerous, shouldn’t be doing it, would be proven so by the inevitable fatalities, will turn our sport into an amusement ride, and most likely kill the sport because people will make one tandem jump and walk away. There was also a time when tandem skydiving was viewed as nothing more than a cash cow engaged in by those "damn greedy DZOs", maybe if you looked hard enough you could still find a few people who have that viewpoint. I guess my point is not to be quite so quick to judge and condemn something, at least without first hand experience. Maybe you could get some training, borrow someone’s glove, take up an experienced skydiver, and see how it goes. Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I agree, it is a bit more hassle, and with only two TIs who also have a lot of additional obligations around the DZ we just haven’t tried to “spec” many yet. That said, I did spec one a month or so ago, and got some excellent “puke video”, he managed to get the majority of it around us to the left, and the camera was just a foot or so from his face! I actually tried to sell it to the guy, but for some reason he wasn’t interested. I’d rewound the tape ready to edit, he didn’t buy it so I didn’t edit it, next jump I taped over it. I never tape over, but lost this video! What a fun thing to laugh at over a few beers after jumping!! Oh well, I’m sure I’ll get another, although I’ve only been puked on twice in 1000+ tandems. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Thanks Clint. I’m somewhat surprised how well the hand cam video is doing for us, in other words how well it’s selling. I know it’s already in the 50% range, I listened to my wife give the “video run down” on the phone the other day to a tandem customer, and thought ‘sounds like a good deal to me!’ I really like the product; again the draw back is that there is no still picture option. Another plus for us with the 182 is that our students often want to go in pairs, they can and still get video. My first impression was that it might be a little “scary” to put that thing on my hand, but honestly it’s not much more of an issue/distraction/weight/whatever than an altimeter. If everything’s going well it’s easy, if things aren’t going so well, you forget the camera, and do your skydiving business! All that said, I think 100 tandems should be absolute minimum (depends on the TM, some may never be comfortable with it) before taking on the video task. Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Since I now offer more than one video option, I put up a page specifically for "Tandem Video" (need to replace the current pictures, some of them are a bit dark). Also added in pricing on the "Prices" page, with links pointing to the video page everywhere video is mentioned. We offer tandem and IAD training, there's no confusion with AFF video. Check it out. AC/DZ Tandem Video page AC/DZ Prices page Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

IMO don't try to watch the canopy open, head up, eyes on the horizon! You have your head cranked round to one side and have an opening hammer you it's going to be much worse on your neck! Also, try to "stand up a bit" on throw, after slowing down from the track, feet on your butt, arms way out in front, so you're a bit head high. When you throw, have the left hand out as far above your head as you can so you're not dipping down head low. Also, in my personal experience if you (or let some dip shit pack for you) forget to uncollapse your slider, you're going to see stars! Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

How about the day’s when the wind at altitude is 90 to 180 off of what it is on the ground. Some will want to run jump run relative to the ground winds, others will want to run jump run into the wind, then move the jump run to the up wind side with 90 degrees off the wind line, or if 180 off top to bottom into the wind, and start exit before you get to the DZ. Last weekend we had the 180 degree thing going on, and on a tandem were still in the “uppers”, we tried to open about straight up, run East to be up wind, then West back to the DZ. Now take into account that the Winds Aloft Forecast is about as accurate as a 3 day WX forecast. In a 182, you can work with the pilot on the climb and work out the wind direction and speed as you climb, more accurate by far, but takes some skill. Along the same lines, I find it pitiful how poorly people can spot. I jump a 182, and am familiar with the area surrounding my DZ. I can spot form the back of the airplane while hooked up with a tandem, just by watching the roads, and landmarks as we pass over them. Nothing worse than someone who just has to open that door 3 miles out, when it’s blowing 40 knots at altitude, and 10 to 20 degrees! Then theirs the “Harry Barr Skyvan”, people laying down looking under the airplane and spotting from way out, giving corrections like “fly this way another 5 miles, then have him do a 180 left, and I’ll go from there, relayed back up the airplane through the skydivers. Crazy, but if you’ve jumped that airplane with Harry at the yoke, you know I’m not exaggerating at all (well maybe just a little). Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I hunted around on the internet for a picture of the 2-22CK Glider (Schweitzer model 2-22CK - 2 seat glider jump @ 4000 Ft- $89), but didn't find any. Anyone have a pic, doesn't need to be the actual one to be used at WFFC, I'd just like to see what one looks like. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Great! I guess I'd always just assumed that the "TR" was "Tandem Raven". Thanks for the insight! Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I wanted to post this one more for the picture than informational value. It’s over an air show at Wichita Kansas McConnell Air Force Base and the Kansas Aviation Museum. The flag is 400 sf, it’s attached to a specifically designed harness that’s worn under the rig harness. Designed into a deployment bag, with cut away system and I think 30 or 40 lbs weight (I’ve not personally jumped the rig, and am not absolutely sure about the weight. Now, how many aircraft can you identify? (Sorry, guess that would be a thread hijack. Don’t respond, just do it for yourself) Martin Edit to upload the picture Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I hesitate to post this because I didn’t ask permission, but I can’t imagine it being an issue. We jump Eclipse tandem rigs at my DZ, and when we purchased the first one we flew Mark “Shoobi” Knutson (founder of Stunts Adventure Equipment/Eclipse, but no longer involved in the company) out to get myself and one other certified (also got an existing RWS IE certified as an IE for Eclipse). Anyway, I emailed Shoobi with the same question, and this was his response. I think its valuable experience/advice. Martin “1000 tandems and no cutaways! You should have done one just for giggles already! The Raven 375 flies and lands like docile 7 cell. Although landing it head on into the wind is nice, I prefer to fly a low landing pattern over my chosen target like and airplane. Downwind leg, base leg and final turn @ 150 feet or so. This allows a little extra airspeed to work with at flare. Also, and this might hurt, wrap a turn or two of the lower control line around your hands to shorten up the distance between the tail attach points and your hands. The reserves are "detuned" to prevent low stalls, so without the wrap, you won't get a maximum flare. Do your wrap prior to entering the above "pattern". I know, it'll hurt a little bit and may even leave some marks in your hands for a few minutes after landing. But it sure beats a hard landing for you and the person who just paid you for the ride. Shoobi” Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

That's funny! How about just "what's packing" in general? Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Here's a pic. This is a 400 sf flag, with 40 lbs weight under it. Deployed form a specifically designed harness/container. Picture taken over McConnell AFB Wichita Kansas, and the Kansas Aviation Museum. How many planes can you identify? Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Bump! I see that the USPA BOD upheald the Group Membership revocation of the three "Skyride owned DZs" at the winter meeting. http://www.uspa.org/contact/BODminutes/BODMin0206.pdf Page 21 Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

It’s my understanding that the door modification, step, and seatbelt configuration for a 182 (and I imagine most other mods are the same) is not an STC, but rather a “Field Approval”. A Supplemental Type Certificate requires someone to do considerable testing, etc, and be issued the STC. Once the STC exists they own it, and can sell rights to others to use. The Field Approval is a one off thing, and is checked and approved by the local FSDO. Granted that the C182 Field Approval is based on previous paperwork, and dates back to the first one, again as I understand it was the “Snohomish” modification. This is also why some jurisdictions are harder than others to get the field approval, some FSDOs just will not issue one. Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I'm not concerned about it except for the extreme case. Were you loaded over 500 lbs, on a nice 110 degree, 90% humidity, day with a density altitude of 5,000 feet or so? That's what I'm talk'n bout! I know, I know, best answer to the above mentioned scenario is 'don't do that!' Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

I won’t really disagree with that opinion. Here are my thoughts, a large part of the justification for the price of outside video is that it requires another person on the skydive (yes, and a dedicated professional video person can have $10,000 in his equipment). For inside video, the third skydiver and slot isn’t required, granted the TM will have $1000 or so in camera, glove, lens, etc. I want to “push” inside video in order to lighten the work load, and to free up the airplane. If I were running a turbine (with a need to sell as many slots as possible), and had a couple of dedicated video professionals standing around my motivation would be just the opposite. Also my opinion, inside video is a cool product, but it does not justify the price that outside video does. My opinion of outside video and stills is that the real value is in the stills. The customer will show the video around as much as they can for a few days, then it goes away (unless it’s a naked chick tandem, we play those every once in a while after a long day, and with a few beers!). The stills can be blown up, framed, loaded and ran as a screen saver, back ground, emailed around the world, made into a colander, printed in the newspaper, tattooed on your ass, etc. etc. Martin Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Apparently not many TIs here with experience on the Raven reserves. Maybe I should just ask George Galloway? Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

Up until this year we (my partner and I) were doing 99% of our own packing, and we're also the gear owners. I don't know that I'm all that neat, but I know what I'm looking at while doing the packing. Mark has about the same number of tandems, with one line over malfunction. I've heard/saw arguments for flat packing tandems, we throw it over a hook, and pro pack, also tie the steering lines into the center D line attachment point with a rubber band, it's obviously working for us! Yes, I did miss the "old days" of F111 tandem canopies. Didn't start doing tandems till 1999. With Icarus 365s, landing a 500 lb tandem compares with landing a sport canopy loaded to 1.3 or 1.4. 500 lbs under a 375sf F11 reserve makes me a bit nervous. We have a couple of shallow ponds on the property, I'd rather put it in the water than breaking my ass if I know that would be the outcome! Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ

You’re absolutely correct, figure an additional $30 or so per tandem if you own your own gear! That said, most DZOs would rather keep that $30, which would pay back a $9000 rig in 300 jumps (not figuring rigging/maintenance). It’s my understanding that generally if a TM owns his gear the DZO will allow him to use it (and pay him for his gear) only when the DZ is so backed up that they can’t keep up with the DZ gear. You may spend a lot of money, and end up with nowhere to jump it! Then again, you could go the extra mile, but an airplane, rent a hanger, hang out a shingle, and do your own thing. That’s what I did! Now I jump my own gear, at my own DZ! I also work a 40 hour job, spend another 30 or so a week with the DZ, and my wife is a stay at home mom, so she “works the phone” all week! As DZO, and not figuring my wife’s time, I made a little over $10 an hour last year, and I do half the tandems, half the video, manifest, trash man, chief toilet swab, etc. etc. I think that in a lot of cases DZO is the poorest paid job on the DZ! Man, I’m pissed now! I’m raising my prices! Martin Air Capital Drop Zone Experience is what you get when you thought you were going to get something else. AC DZ